What 392.14 means in plain language
FMCSR 392.14 addresses a straightforward safety rule: when you're operating a commercial motor vehicle and conditions become hazardous—whether that's snow, ice, sleet, fog, mist, rain, dust, or smoke—you must take action. That action is either reducing your speed or stopping altogether. The regulation doesn't set a specific speed threshold; instead, it requires that you exercise extreme caution appropriate to the conditions you're facing.
In practical terms, this citation means an inspector observed you driving at a speed or in a manner they determined was unsafe given the environmental conditions present at that moment. It's not about the road being wet or foggy in general—it's about your driving response to those conditions.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across our 13 million+ inspection records, 392.14 is a relatively uncommon citation. We've recorded 226 all-time citations for this code, ranking it #1184 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume. In the last 12 months, we documented 7 citations, with 3 in the last 90 days.
The out-of-service rate for 392.14 is remarkably low: only 1 citation out of 226 resulted in a vehicle being placed out of service, for a 0.4% OOS rate. For context, the all-FMCSR average OOS rate is 31.4%, meaning 392.14 violations are almost never severe enough to trigger an immediate roadside removal from service. This tells you that inspectors view this violation as correctable driver behavior rather than a critical equipment or driver-disqualification issue.
The monthly trend over the last 12 months shows sporadic enforcement: 1 citation in April 2025, 2 in June 2025, 3 in January 2026, and 1 in February 2026. This pattern suggests enforcement depends heavily on the environmental conditions present at the time and location of inspection, rather than representing a consistent enforcement focus.
Who gets cited most
Our data from the last 180 days shows citations concentrated in two states: Iowa with 2 citations (0.0% OOS rate) and North Carolina with 2 citations (0.0% OOS rate). Neither state has recorded an out-of-service placement for this violation in that window.
Looking at carrier patterns across all-time records, multiple fleets appear in our database with 2 citations each, including Nova Freight LLC, IBV LLC, Strunz Milk Transport LLC, Route 51 Auto & Truck Parts LLC, Crete Carrier Corporation, DK Max Trucking Inc, Arsenberger Trucking Company, and Western Express Inc. This distribution reflects the random nature of roadside inspections rather than indicating systemic non-compliance at any single carrier.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
392.14 sits within the Unsafe Driving category alongside several related violations. By comparison, 392.2—Operating a CMV while ill or fatigued—has generated 1,208,164 citations with a 0.8% OOS rate, making it vastly more common and slightly more likely to trigger out-of-service action. Other variants in this category like 392.2-SLLSR (191,232 citations, 0.1% OOS rate) and 392.2RG (96,652 citations, 0.1% OOS rate) also far exceed 392.14 in citation frequency but maintain similarly low out-of-service rates.
The severity weight assigned to 392.14 is 5 on the CSA scale, placing it in the moderate range for unsafe driving violations. Its low OOS rate and rarity in enforcement records suggest it's treated as a driver-behavior correction opportunity rather than a critical safety defect.
How to avoid it
Preventing a 392.14 citation requires developing the habit of matching your driving to actual conditions, not just posted speed limits or assumed safe speeds. Here's what you can do:
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Check conditions before and during your route. Use weather apps and traffic reports before you leave, and continuously assess visibility, road surface, and precipitation as you drive. If conditions deteriorate, slow down preemptively—don't wait for an inspector to tell you that you should have.
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Understand that "extreme caution" is your standard in poor visibility or wet/icy conditions. This isn't about being overly cautious; it's about recognizing that fog, rain, snow, or ice materially changes your stopping distance and traction. Adjust speed accordingly. If you can't see far enough ahead to stop safely, you're going too fast for conditions.
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Pre-trip inspection focus on visibility equipment. Our citation data shows Freightliner, Peterbilt, and Volvo models appearing frequently in 392.14 records. Ensure your windshield is clean, wipers function properly, lights are operational, and mirrors are adjusted and clean. Poor visibility from your cab can lead to speed errors in marginal conditions.
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Be aware of co-occurring violations. In our last 90 days of data, 392.14 appeared alongside speeding violations in the same inspection. This pattern indicates that citations often occur when drivers maintain highway speeds in conditions that demand lower speeds. If weather or visibility requires caution, reduce speed—don't just drive carefully at an unsafe speed.
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Know your vehicle's limits. Empty trucks and loaded trucks handle differently in rain, ice, and snow. Understand your specific vehicle's braking and traction characteristics in poor conditions, and factor that into your speed decisions.
Your citation indicates an inspector believed your speed or driving manner was unsafe relative to the conditions present. The good news: the extremely low out-of-service rate shows this is almost never a career-ending violation. Use this as a reset point to develop better condition-awareness habits before your next roadside inspection.